Latest News

February 15, 2019

Bankrate: "How to overcome ‘fear of the fee’ with alternatives to traditional banks"

Partnership for the Public Good, a think tank in Buffalo, New York, released research last year on that city’s unbanked population, which is currently ranked in the top 10 most unbanked cities in the nation. The findings illustrate the possible consequences of not using traditional banks.

December 26, 2018

Buffalo News: "Letter: State should address development tax break"

The Buffalo News published a letter by PPG policy analyst Sarah Wooton, calling on New York State to eliminate the 485-a exemption or change it to help small-time property owners to improve their properties, rather than doling out public money to wealthy developers for dubious projects.

October 29, 2018

WGRZ News: “Activists hope new ‘Cultural Landscape’ report will preserve Outer Harbor

"It's a great moment for citizens to get involved because there's a lot of positive momentum," said Sam McGavern, Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good. "There's a real sense of a vision for a beautiful 21st century park on the Outer Harbor."

September 29, 2018

Buffalo News: "Critics take aim at Benderson over city tax break — for one apartment"

"When the public invests money in things, it should yield a benefit for the community," Magavern said. "It should be providing affordable housing and quality jobs for city residents, not just padding the profit of wealthy developers."

April 16, 2018

Report: Low-income workers suffer wage-theft in WNY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - A startling new report shows there is a group of low-wage workers in Buffalo whose legal rights are being violated by their employers. On Friday, the Partnership for the Public Good and Open Buffalo released the report at the Buffalo Public Library as part of Buffalo Poverty …

February 6, 2018

"Looking Into Buffalo's Living Wage Law" published by WGRZ

Buffalo's living wage ordinance applies whenever the city makes a contract for services in which it pays or receives more than $50,000 per year with an employer who employs more than ten people.

January 10, 2018

Community Groups to Unveil their Policy Agenda for 2018

This year’s public roll-out of the Community Agenda will take place on Friday, January 12th at 2pm, at the Frank E. Merriweather Library Auditorium, 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo.

December 18, 2017

PPG Partners Vote on 2018 Community Agenda

Partnership for the Public Good welcomed 52 partners and 62 total community members to the first floor community room of the Market Arcade on December 15th, 2017. Their task? Vote on 21 different pitches to settle 2018’s “Community Agenda,” an amalgamation of policy planks that …

December 5, 2017

Buffalo News Article: "Inclusionary zoning debate continues..."

"Sam Magavern, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good, addressed the Council's Legislation Committee, making a case for inclusionary zoning."

November 14, 2017

"Racial disparity found in local marijuana arrests, study says" Published by the Buffalo News

"Authored by the Partnership for the Public Good, a local think tank, the study is intended to boost efforts at reforming New York's marijuana laws. Reform advocates say the costs of marijuana prohibition far outweigh the benefits, especially given the national movement toward legalization."

November 10, 2017

Become a Champion for Change in 2018!

Are you ready to plan a change for your community? Are you ready to join thousands of citizens and hundreds of organizations working to create an equitable, healthy and ecologically thriving region? If so, please apply today to become a Champion for Change with One Region Forward’s Citizens …

November 2, 2017

Buffalo News Article: "Rod Watson: Will ‘city of good neighbors’ only want rich people next door?"

"The goal is not just to build affordable housing, but "to deal with economic and racial segregation," said Sam Magavern, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good, a coalition member. Including the units in the upscale development also is more efficient than building a separate …